CZ-3D quick tests results

[Indiana Heath]

Test results with my new unit
1. new nickles read round-tab with mid-tone-----ok
2. zinc pennies read high tone high coin id.......ok
3. us clad dime SHOULD air-test and ID correctly at 11.25 in (mine was 9.5 inches) ?
4. at maximum range audio response was fairly short ,and faint ...maybe a tad bit smeared ?
5. Autone mode should start to produce threshold/hum at sens above 9....ok

The air test and audio at max range on dime was the only tests I thought were questionable. It might be a little out of tune. I know nothing about electronics. Wondered if others have ran these tests and what results they had.

Brad

 

[Scott_B]

Try the nickel test also from his website. You may remember these posts.

Hi Eric,

.... Want you to perform a unique test. Install factory coil (probably 8" coil) on the CZ-3D,,,, and air-test about 50 nickels in the "enhanced" mode. Write down (and keep seperated) the nickels that register as 'nickel' and the ones that report as 'round pull-tab". Keep them seperated. NOW........ install the 5" coil on the detector. Perform the exact same test. If only 1 or 2 nickels read differently..... the coil may be okay. If 3 (or more) nickels read differently... the coil is confirmed defective.

..... It already sounds like you have a confirmed 'defective' coil. BUT.... try this test also.

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I took 50 Jefferson nickles just now and ran a couple tests.

Test 1: Stock 8" coil

While in Enhanced mode, ALL read round pull tab, no exceptions.
While in Salt mode, ALL read as nickle, no exceptions.

Test 2: 5" coil

While in Enhanced mode, ALL read round pull tab, no exceptions
While in Salt mode, 37 read consitantly as FOIL, 13 jumped between FOIL and Nickle!


That last part was surprising to me, I would have expected all to read as nickle like on the 8" coil, not most as FOIL. The ones that read FOIL were very consistant, not bouncing around. The ones that read as nickle would sometimes jump to FOIL, but pretty much stayed as Nickle. I did notice that the 13 were newer nickles with very little circulation, the rim of the coins were still sharp and well defined.

Given these test results, what would you say?

Thanks for your help.

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Hmmmm...... Sounds like we have identified TWO problems. The 5" coil certainly does not match the consistent results you acquired with the 8" coil. Imped. mis-match w/5" coil. Also, your CZ-3D is not calibrated properly. One Hundred New nickels (never exposed to dirt) should read/ID as "Round-Tab" 20% - 35%. All of the other new nickels (65% - 80%) should ID as "Nickel". This is normal for a CZ-3D in the "enhanced" mode...... when calibrated properly.
.... This prompts another concern. IF, IF, IF you have access to a United States "Half-Eagle" (( $5.00 )) gold coin,,,,, it needs to ID as "Zinc Penny" in the enhanced mode. This test will only test the high-end of the Zinc window.... and leaves the lower end (transition point) of the Zinc window as untested/unknown.

 

[Indiana Heath]

I took 73 nickles and tested in enhanced mode 68 registered as round pull tab, 5 as nickel. In salt mode all read as nickels. Looks like my unit is not calibrated right. It does not pick up a dime at 11.25 inches in air test, audio at max range is somewhat elongated and it looks like it failed the nickel test....98% read as round pull tab. I wonder what this means in loss of performance on depth and id. Will have to use it like it is for awhile until I can get someone to recalibrate it. At least it has a lifetime warranty with this unit which is why I bought it knowing there was a good possibility it wasn't calibrated right.

 

[Ed in Mo]

I got my CZ-3D about 4 months ago, after the unit air tested a dime at only 6 1/2" I sent it back to the company. After a little over a month and 3 new units later they sent me one and said it was hand selected and passed every test with flying colors. This unit air test:

a zinc penny at 9", iron/coin bounce down to 11" in the salt mode...9 1/2" lock on in enhanced mode..bounce after that.

a dime, 8 1/2" lock on, coin/ iron bounce down to 9 1/2" only. enhanced mode...no change.

100 nickles
salt...all read nickles
enhanced... 98 read nickles, 2 tab/nickle bounce.

Makes you wonder if the standards have changed as to what is acceptable now with the newer units.

I just got tired of fighting them on this unit and gave up. Now I will tell you I love the 3D and experience little to no trouble hunting with it. I hunt in only the enhanced mode and it calls nickles 98% right including buffalo and v nickles I have found. I dig little junk now and learned the machine well. My concern is the same as most...what am I missing? I find coins on a regular basis at 6-8" and that is about it. I have pulled up iron and junk...just for the fun of it, at 12+ inches easily. With that kind of loss of depth it is hard to have much confidence in this unit so I still use my other machines on the good places first. What a shame because I know if I had one up to par it would be my only machine. I have admit too, my others won't air test a dime at 11" either, but confidence is very important when hunting. If anyone knows or finds someone that can fix them up right, please let me know! It is a good detector but still feel I have a substandard one and got short changed. Love to know what you all find out.

 

[Scott_B]

I don't have 100 nickels yet. I am going to get some this afternoon and try this test. I just never got around to it before. I would like to see Tom's website back up again. Tom mentioned in one of his posts one time that. If one suspects that their CZ-3D was out of specs then, it could be sent directly to him and he would fix it. If only his site was back up I would gladly pay him for it if it had to be sent to him. I will perform the nickel test this afternoon and post the results.
Tom mentioned once that he would prefer to have an older model CZ-3D over the newer ones. When asked why, he said that he wasn't able to say. Maybe corners are being cut on the ones that are in production now. Maybe a tune up would get them back in proper working order.
Scott

 

[Indiana Heath]

I will keep hunting with mine for awhile till weather gets bad then I am going to send it off to Tom D. and make sure it is correctly calibrated so I won't be wondering if I am missing good targets due to poor calibration. I feel like you do that you don't have the confidence in it. I feel it is a good enough unit to pursue all avenues untill it is correct

Brad